Applied Climate Scientist/State Climatologist

Rutgers University; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Rutgers University – New Brunswick seeks applicants for a tenured Applied Climate Scientist/State Climatologist. The 12‑month appointment will be at the rank of Associate Extension Specialist or Extension Specialist, directing the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist.

The role will coordinate the state climate program, lead robust research, teaching, and extension activities within SEBS‑NJAES and SAS, supervise staff, and provide briefings to state and federal officials.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead the state’s climate program by directing the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist.
• Prepare formal and informal technical reports and presentations on climate projects and issues.
• Engage in robust community outreach with stakeholders from urban to suburban to agricultural clientele, with an emphasis on weather and climate.
• The candidate will teach one undergraduate course in meteorology or climate science per year.

Job description

Posting Summary

The Departments of Environmental Sciences and Geography at Rutgers University – New Brunswick, seek applications for a tenured faculty position as Applied Climate Scientist/State Climatologist. This 12-month (calendar year) appointment as Associate Extension Specialist or Extension Specialist (at the equivalent rank of Associate or Full Professor, respectively), will coordinate and lead the state’s climate program by directing the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist. The Department of Environmental Sciences is in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences ( SEBS ) and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station ( NJAES ), and the Department of Geography is in the School of Arts and Sciences ( SAS ). The Applied Climate Scientist/State Climatologist will contribute to the integrated research, teaching, and extension land-grant mission of SEBS - NJAES and SAS as an effective scholar, teacher/mentor, and public spokesperson. Specific Duties Include Coordinate and lead the state’s climate program by directing the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist ( https://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim/ ), including the supervision of staff who support the mission of the State Climatologist. Provide briefings to state and federal officials as needed. Prepare formal and informal technical reports and presentations on climate projects and issues. Respond to questions from the media and stakeholder groups by evaluating and interpreting data. Engage in robust community outreach with stakeholders from urban to suburban to agricultural clientele, with an emphasis on weather and climate, through the NJAES system. Confer with other State Climatologists around the country and with national, regional, and local weather and climate experts on data needs, climate communication, and climate data interpretation. Manage and build the capacity of the Rutgers NJ Weather Network (mesonet) ( https://njweather.org ), cultivate and maintain stakeholder relationships and participate in mesonet advisory groups to support the provision of high quality, valid data for governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry and the general public.

• Seek appropriate funding for functions and programs of the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist and other collaborating programs at Rutgers and with other departments/units.
• The successful candidate will develop a high-impact, nationally and internationally recognized extension, research and teaching program in climate science; effectively obtain and leverage external and internal support (grants, fee revenue, etc.) for research and teaching activities; mentor graduate students; publish in high-quality, high-impact peer-reviewed journals and participate in scientific meetings and other appropriate professional activities. The successful candidate will also establish effective collaborations in the Departments of Environmental Sciences and Geography and beyond, including effective integration with research groups, extension and/or educational programming; connect with stakeholders, agency, and/or industry partners to strengthen programming; and translate research-based information into learner-centered products. This includes creating scholarly, innovative, and high-impact learning programs and tools; identifying opportunities focused on emerging regional and national issues with international relevance; and mentoring colleagues through professional development, translational research, grants, and professional writing. The candidate will be expected to teach one undergraduate course in meteorology or climate science per year. Specific course assignments may be changed over time based on programmatic needs. In addition to the above-described duties, the individual will be expected to participate in appropriate departmental, school and university service.